Thor Heyerdahl Scholarship

Are you attending a Norwegian sixth form college (Videregåede skole) and would like to follow in the footsteps of Thor Heyerdahl? The theme this year is International Dialogue - A changing world. Please send your contribution within the deadline of 1 March 2016, and win a scholarship worth 50 000 NOK.

How to participate?The Thor Heyerdahl Institute would like to contribute to international dialogue among young people in a changing world. We are therefore announcing a NOK 50 000 scholarship to sixth form college students in Norway. The aim of the scholarship is to encourage interdisciplinary projects by groups or individuals. The theme this year is International Dialogue - A changing world. Please send your contribution to stipend@heyerdahl-institute.com within the deadline of 1 March 2016. Submissions may take the form of written projects, film, photographs, drawings, an exhibition, music, dance, or art and crafts.

About Thor HeyerdahlThor Heyerdahl (1914-2002) was one of the best known, admired and respected Norwegians outside Norway. According to Ragnar Kvam, author of Thor Heyerdahl’s biography, Thor Heyerdahl was the most famous Norwegian in the world after the Kon-Tiki Expedition at the end of the 1940s. He was also known for his passionate involvement in protecting the environment, in particular the world’s oceans. In 2011 his archives were included in UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Thor Heyerdahl’s ability to communicate with people from different cultures, understand their background and the challenges they face, was an important quality that enabled him to pass on knowledge to new generations. At the same time, there is no doubt that he was a controversial figure, particularly in academic circles.

Gift from the Norwegian GovernmentOn the occasion of the centenary celebration of Thor Heyerdahl on 6 October 2014, the Norwegian Government presented The Thor Heyerdahl Institute with a gift of NOK 150 000. The gift was given in the form of three scholarships worth NOK 50 000 each, to be awarded to young people engaged in global climate and environmental issues, cultural heritage and international dialogue. The Institute has chosen to spread the scholarships over 3 years (2016-2018), with one theme for each year. The theme for 2016 is International Dialogue.

«Through his adventurous life and work Thor Heyerdahl contributed to the creation of knowledge, interest and passion for important global issues, ranging from nature and the environment to international dialogue. These themes are no less relevant today», said the Norwegian Minister of Culture, Thorhild Widvey, at the presentation ceremony in 2014.

Members of the juryAll scholarship contributions will be evaluated and the winner(s) will be selected by a jury. Members of the jury will be:

Cecilie Hellestveit

Researcher and advisor at the International Law and Policy Institute(ILPI)

•Liv Arnesen (expedition leader/author/teacher and board member of The Thor Heyerdahl Institute)

•Erling Storm (president of the Norwegian Rowing Federation and former board member of The Thor Heyerdahl Institute)

The winner(s) will be announced at the The Thor Heyerdahl International Day conference 2016 in Oslo. The date of the conference will be made public on the Institute’s web site and information about the programme and meeting time will be sent to the winner(s).

Submission formatEntries should be submitted as presentations; in the form of a written project, film, photographs – or other formats that can be presented visually (maximum 10 minutes). The Thor Heyerdahl Institute has the right to publish all project submissions.

Thor Heyerdahl Concert in Oslo!

Wednesday April 18th, 18:30. Free admission. In collaboration with IIC, The Thor Heyerdahl Institute presents an evening with the winners of the opera contest T.O.S.C.A 2017, organised in Andora,...
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